Yakima SunKings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yakima SunKings |
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| League | Continental Basketball Association 1990–2008 The Basketball League 2018–2019 |
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| Founded | (1990-2008) 2017 |
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| History | Kansas City Sizzlers 1985–1986 Topeka Sizzlers 1986–1990 Yakima Sun Kings 1990–2005 Yakama Sun Kings 2005–2008 Yakima SunKings 2018–2019 |
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| Arena | Yakima SunDome | ||
| Location | Yakima, Washington, U.S. | ||
| Team colors | |||
| Ownership | Jaime Campos | ||
| Championships | 6 (1995, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2018) | ||
| Uniforms | |||
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The Yakima SunKings were a basketball team from Yakima, Washington. They played their games at the Yakima SunDome. The team was important for sports fans in central Washington, including Yakima, Tri-Cities, and Ellensburg.
The SunKings played in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) from 1990 to 2008. In 2005, the team was bought by the Yakama Indian Nation. Its name was changed from Yakima Sun Kings to Yakama Sun Kings to honor the Nation.
In 2018, a new version of the team started playing in the North American Premier Basketball league. This league later changed its name to The Basketball League in 2019. The team was very successful, winning the regular season title in both years. They also won the championship in 2018. However, many western teams left the league before the 2020 season. Because of this, the new SunKings team decided not to play anymore.
Contents
Team History
The SunKings basketball team started in Kansas City, Missouri. It then moved to Topeka, Kansas, before coming to the Pacific Northwest. In 1990, a lawyer named Robert Wilson bought the team.
Choosing a Name
When the team moved to Yakima, a contest was held to choose a new name. The winning name was "Yakima Sun Kings," replacing their old name, "Sizzlers." The team hired Dean Nicholson, a local favorite, as their coach.
Early Success and Championships
The SunKings were a successful team in the CBA. They won several championships:
- 1994–95 season
- 1999–2000 season
- 2002–03 season
- 2005–06 season
- 2006–07 season
One season, 2003–04, was tough for the team. They won only 10 games and lost 38. They also lost all 9 games they played against the CBA Champion Dakota Wizards.
Ronny Turiaf's Story
In the 2005–06 season, a player named Ronny Turiaf played for the Sun Kings. He had been drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005. However, the Lakers canceled his contract because he needed open-heart surgery. Less than six months after his surgery, Ronny Turiaf played nine games for the Sun Kings. He scored about 13 points per game. In January 2006, he was able to re-sign with the Lakers.
More Championships
On March 27, 2006, the Sun Kings won their fourth CBA Championship. They beat the Gary Steelheads 111–101 in the third game of the finals. In the 2006–07 season, the Sun Kings won the championship again! They swept the Albany Patroons, winning three games to none.
Team Stops Playing
On April 10, 2008, the Yakama Nation decided to stop the team's operations. This was because the team was losing money.
The SunKings Return
On September 29, 2017, it was announced that the Yakima SunKings would be one of the first teams in a new league called North American Premier Basketball. In October 2017, Paul Woolpert returned as the head coach and general manager. The team won the first championship in this new league.
The league changed its name to The Basketball League in 2019. Coach Woolpert left the team. Before the 2020 season, most of the western teams in the league stopped playing. Because of this, the SunKings also decided to leave the league.
Notable Former Players
Some famous basketball players who played for the SunKings include:
- Dennis Williams (born 1965)
- Raja Bell (born 1976)
See also
In Spanish: Yakama Sun Kings para niños
